New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP038’

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having orange-red flowers, and green leaves with yellow variegation, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP038’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guinea impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida hort, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP038’. ‘SAKIMP038’ originated from a hybridization between the proprietary female Impatiens line ‘NG-02SM-13’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Impatiens line ‘NF-457BB’ (unpatented) in Misato, Japan.

In September 2009, the parental lines were crossed and a population of F1 plants was created. The F1 plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial. The criteria for selection included bright flower color, clear variegation, and a strong root system. At the completion of the trial, a single plant selection designated as ‘M2011-377’ was selected based on the above selection criteria an vegetatively propagated. From June to August 2011, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and re-evaluated for stability of traits. ‘M2011-377’ was subsequently named ‘SAKIMP038’, which was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative shoot-tip cuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Orange-red flowers; and     -   2. Green leaves with yellow variegation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP038’. Data was obtained from plants grown about 2 months from propagation by terminal cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.         -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrida hort.         -   Common.—Impatiens.         -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP038’. -   Growth:     -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution:9 water) root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse             located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based             growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,             10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or             every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were             top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing             20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical             average air temperature was 24° C. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Impatiens plant line             ‘NG-02SM-13’.         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Impatiens plant line             ‘NF-457BB’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Spreading.         -   Height.—21.5 cm from the soil line to the top of the             foliage.         -   Spread.—42.0 cm.         -   Number of branches.—10 total with 1 main branch.         -   Length of branches.—1.5 cm from the soil line to the first             node, 17.0 cm total.         -   Diameter of branches.—1.3 cm for the main branch, 6.0 mm to             8.0 mm for the other secondary branches.         -   Color of branches.—Closest to but darker than RHS 187A             (Greyed-Purple).         -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.         -   Flowering requirements (season).—Will flower so long as             temperature is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue             flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and             shiny.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 8.0 cm from the first to the second node,             12.0 cm to 15.0 cm total.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 7.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull; waxy.         -   Length.—8.3 cm.         -   Width.—3.7 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Green) with RHS 4A (Yellow)             at the mid-vein; on mature leaves this color is slightly             lighter RHS 11B (Yellow). Lower surface: RHS 147B             (Yellow-Green) with RHS 11C (Yellow) at mid-vein.         -   Variegation.—Present.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: RHS 187C             (Greyed-Purple). Texture: Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 62D             (Red-Purple). Lower surface: RHS 60A (Red-Purple). -   Flowers:     -   -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;             about 10 flower buds.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 35 in bloom.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Corolla shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.         -   Corolla diameter.—5.8 cm.         -   Corolla depth.—1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length:             3.0 cm. Width: 3.1 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate             (cleaved). Margin: Entire. Base: Attenuate. Color: Upper             surface: RHS N30A (Orange-Red). Lower: Closest to RHS 39A             (Red). Eye zone: Closest to RHS 60A (Red-Purple). -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal number.—2.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Closest to 180A (Greyed-Red)             with very slight RHS 147A at the tip. Lower surface: Closest             to RHS 157A (Green-White) with very slight RHS 180A             (Greyed-Red).         -   Sepal length.—1.5 cm.         -   Sepal diameter.—6.0 mm.         -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.         -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture.—Glabrous. -   Bud:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid longitudinal cross-section.         -   Color.—Closest to RHS 41A (Red) with RHS 183A             (Greyed-Purple) at the edge and very slight 144A             (Yellow-Green) at the edge. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Color.—Closest to RHS 185A (Greyed-Purple).         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Spur:     -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-Purple) with N77A (Purple) at             the tip and N155B (White) at the base with RHS 60B             (Red-Purple) at the midpoint of the base and RHS 143B             (Yellow-Green) at the tip of base.         -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.         -   Length.—6.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Stamen form: Fused; split into 4 lobes. Stamen             number: 5. Filament form: Free. Filament length: 7.0 mm.             Filament color: RHS 144C (Yellow-Green). Anther length:             7.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to RHS 50A (Red). Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 158B (Yellow-White). Pollen             description: Powdery.         -   Pistil.—Pistil number: 1. Stigma color: Closest to 145D             (Yellow-Green). Style color: RHS 136A (Green). Ovary             arrangement: Parietal. Ovary interior color: RHS 145B             (Yellow-Green).         -   Seed production.—Not present. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘SAKIMP038’ is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP038’ ‘NG-02SM-13’ ‘NF-457BB’ Flower color Orange-red with Deeper orange than Magenta red-purple eyes ‘SAKIMP038’ Leave variegation Present Absent Absent

When ‘SAKIMP038’ is compared to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘SAKIMP026’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,321), the following differences are as described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP038’ ‘SAKIMP026’ Growth habit Spreading Compact Petal color, RHS N30A (Orange-Red) RHS 40A (Red) upper surface Spur color Closest to RHS 60A (Red-Purple) RHS 53D (Red) with N77A (Purple) at the tip and N155B (White) at the base with RHS 60B (Red-Purple) at the midpoint of base and RHS 143B (Yellow-Green) at tip of base Mature leaf color, Variegated with RHS 139A (Green) Darker than upper surface with RHS 4A (Yellow) at the mid RHS 147A vein; on mature leaves this color is (Yellow-Green) slightly lighter RHS 11B (Yellow) 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP038’ as described and illustrated herein. 